Performing Arts Department
CLICK ON HYPERLINKS BELOW FOR MORE INFORMATION & TO REDIRECT TO CLASS WEBSITES
Program Overview & VisionThe Performing Arts Department at Brookline High School is a thriving and lively home for creative expression. We offer courses and extra curricular activities in drama, dance, stagecraft, tech, instrumental music, chorus, and digital music in introductory through advanced levels. Our programs support those who are passionate about a particular performing art, as well introducing students to areas they are not familiar with and may fall in love with through their experience in our classes. Performing Arts gives everyone a voice and teaches communication skills as students learn to work independently and in an ensemble. In addition to learning technique in our different disciplines, students collaborate, problem solve and develop their ability to think critically and creatively - skills that will carry over to all areas of their lives, while having a lot of fun in the process! Students who participate in Performing Arts at BHS develop their artistic technique and vision, and they learn that through working collaboratively, we can create a whole greater than the sum of its individual parts.
Through a variety of courses in Dance, Drama, Stagecraft, Vocal, Instrumental and Digital Music, the Brookline High School's Performing Arts teach self-discipline, reinforce self esteem, develop cooperative learning, encourage curiosity, and foster the creative thinking and problem solving skills that are so necessary for students as they grow and mature. Performing Arts courses provide students the opportunities to: Explore and Discover • Using their imagination and creativity, students develop their self-identity and self-expression. They build self-confidence and learn who they are and who they want to be, while engaging with others doing the same. Develop Craftsmanship • Through practice, focus and problem solving, find new ways to communicate with intent: present ideas and issues, to teach, to persuade, to enjoy, and to entertain. Engage in Community • Develop the attitudes, characteristics, communication, and critical thinking skills required to effectively participate in a complex and ever changing society. • In addition to the daily course work, the Performing Arts Department provides many extracurricular opportunities for students in Drama productions, Music concerts, and Dance presentations. |
CLASS WEBSITES
(click on each class title below to redirect to class website) MUSIC Concert Choir A cappella Choir Camerata Honor Choir AP Music Theory Piano Class Jazz, Rock, Hip Hop Ensemble Concert Band Digital Music Production Music Collective/Jazz Band Drumming & World Music String Orchestra Concert Orchestra Advanced Chamber Orchestra Guitar, Ukulele and Bass through Songs & Songwriting, Level One & Level Two DANCE Beginning Dance Intermediate Dance Advanced Modern/Jazz Dance African, Latin, Hip Hop Dance DRAMA Drama I & IA Drama II & IIA Backstage: Powertools & Special Effects Design for the Stage Needs Improvment Theater for Social Change (formerly BETCo)
AUDITION INFO FOR 2023-2024 CLASSES Many Performing Arts classes have no audition nor prerequisite, but some do. See click on links below for audition info. All auditions for 2023-2024 classes will happen in early to mid March, 2023 Advanced Chamber Orchestra - by audition A cappella Choir (no audition for 10th through 12th graders), Camerata Choir and to be a chorus piano accompanist - by audition Dance - Intermediate & Advanced - by audition for students who haven't taken the prior level at BHS Music Collective/Jazz Band - by audition Open Drama Class - open to any student who wants to see what drama is like at BHS Drama II, Needs Improvment & Theater for Social Change - by audition for any student who hasn't taken the prior level |
Department Contact Information
Friends of Performing Arts (FoPA) - BHS Performing Arts Parent/Guardian Group
Faculty
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MUSIC
Mike Driscoll Choirs, AP Music Theory & Piano Class michael_driscoll@psbma.org Carolyn Castellano Bands & Digital Music Production & Composition carolyn_castellano@psbma.org Nina Bishop Orchestras & Piano Class nina_bishop@psbma.org Kenny Kozol Drumming & World Music kenny_kozol@psbma.org DANCE Britteny Hyslip Beginning through Advanced Dance & African, Latin Hip Hop Dance britteny_hyslip@psbma.org Mayra Hernandez [on leave of absence for the 2022-2023 school year] Beginning through Advanced Dance & African, Latin Hip Hop Dance mayra_hernandez@psbma.org |
DRAMA
Mark VanDerzee Needs Improvment, Theater for Social Change (Formerly BETCo), Backstage: Powertools & Special Effects & Tech, Design for the Stage. mark_vanderzee@psbma.org Elena Maimonis Drama & BHS Musical and 9th Grade Play Director elena_maimonis@psbma.org Arika Nabutovsky Drama, Backstage: Powertools & Special Effects & Tech, Design for the Stage, & Fall and Spring Play Director arika_nabutovsky@psbma.org |